Enhanced Teaching/Learning Process in Analog Electronic Circuits with an Aid of Computer Simulation Tool

Abstract

Analog Electronic Circuits (AEC) is a foundationcourse of many research fields in Electrical as well as ElectronicsEngineering stream. This is a necessary and an essential coursefor various analytical studies in Electrical Science curriculum. The course content emphasis on working of various analogdevices and circuits, and their applications. Conventional Chalk-Talk method of teaching make students highly reliant on courseinstructor. Hence course was dealt with an objective of makingstudents self dependent in the analysis of basic AEC. An attemptwas made by the authors to introduce computer simulation inclassroom teaching and laboratory for II year Under Graduate(UG) students. A survey was made to select an appropriatecomputer simulation tool which can aid students to use iteven beyond college hours. Among different available tools, PSpice Schematics Evaluation Version 9.1 was opted. PSpiceis an industry standard tool and is widely used for analogand mixed signal circuit analysis. Simulation was made a partof assignment, Self Study (SS) component and laboratory. Thework presented in this paper discuss various types of analysislike transient, DC sweep, AC sweep, parametric, Bias point, and temperature analysis performed on typical analog electroniccircuits. Authors also discuss about the difference in attainmentcomparing pedagogy method with conventional one.